While RMG exporters in Bangladesh are reeling under pressure due to higher wages, safety and compliance issues etc. Now leaders of the newly formed UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry have demanded permission from the government to allow transfer of money to invest in opening showrooms for clothing items in the UK.

As Iqbal Ahmed, Chairman of the newly formed platform points out, the government must allow garment exporters to invest 5-10 per cent of their export value in opening showrooms in the UK, because there is huge opportunity in that country. He added that the step would also help in boosting country’s image in the UK market. So far, £400 million has been invested by the non-resident Bangladeshis in the UK through NRB Bank in Bangladesh, informs Iqbal Ahmed, Chairman of the bank.

In a bid to attract investment from the UK, the forum also demanded that the government should develop a special economic zone in Sylhet so that people from Sylhet who live in England can invest in Bangladesh. Bajloor Rashid, President of the forum and also former president of Bangladesh Caterers Association in England was of the opinion that since there lies a great opportunity to attract UK investment in Bangladesh, the government should step in.